
The announcement for the imposition of 10% surtax on Canadian aluminium by the Donald Trump administration has incited strong reactions from Canada.

The management of Alcoa Canada that has been operating an aluminium smelter in Baie-Comeau, is highly disappointed with this decision as it will unsettle markets.
Michel Desbiens, the President of the union at the Baie-Comeau plant said: “Enough of this uncertainty that hangs over year after year. This is the second time that these tariffs have been imposed on Canadian aluminium production. They were lifted in May 2019 after being in effect for a year.”
Desbiens also said: "It's getting tiring to always have a sword of Damocles over your head repeatedly since the start of President Trump's mandate. Especially since, what he wants to do, it has no use. There isn't enough aluminium in the United States to supply the production plants, so it's going to hurt its workers by doing that. We are asking the Government of Canada for a quick response. This time, we have to stop making us laugh, that's enough. ”
For his part, the member for René-Lévesque hopes for a strong response from Ottawa.
Martin Ouellet, the electoral district representative of René-Lévesque said: “Once again, the patriotic arm of the Americans wants to demonstrate that they are the strongest in this trade war, but now is the time for Canada and Quebec to demonstrate that we care about our industry, that we care about our workers, with strong countermeasures.”
Yves Montigny, the mayor of Baie-Comeau denounces this as gesture a few months before the American elections.
Yves Montigny also said: "We feel that the economy wants to restart, and, there, Donald Trump harms us and harms himself. The 10% tariffs, some people will pay for that. If it's not the producer, it could be the customer. So there will be bad repercussions both for Baie-Comeau, but also for Quebec and the Americans. ”
The Alcoa aluminium smelter in Baie-Comeau employs 850 people. The Côte-Nord region of Quebec province alone has two of the nine factories operating in Canada, that of Alcoa.
Responses







